ICO to review period and fertility tracking apps as poll shows more than half of women are concerned over data security

Summary:

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is reviewing period and fertility apps due to concerns over data security and transparency. A poll commissioned by the ICO found that over half of women (57%) are concerned about the security of the data they share when choosing an app, and 59% are concerned about the transparency of how their data is used. The poll also showed that over half of people who use the apps believe they have noticed an increase in baby or fertility-related adverts since signing up, with 17% describing this as distressing. The ICO is calling on users to share their experiences and concerns through a survey, and is reviewing how apps process user personal information to identify potential harms and negative impacts. The goal is to establish areas for improvement and potential regulatory action to protect users.